Black and Arab US citizens may turn away from Joe Biden because of his Gaza policy. But even Donald Trump is not an alternative to the needs of the community, say activists.
Some Black Americans say Biden's handling of the conflict makes them question whether he deserves a second term. Others say the war in the Middle East, which has already cost thousands of lives and brought a region to the brink of famine, reflects other tragedies affecting people of color - and that Biden's support for what they see as moral. See more at CNN.com/soulfood and on Facebook at @SoulFoodCNN and @SylviaSylvania. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Black Philadelphians are focused on how his policies play out half a world away. Israel began its war in the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants breached the border fence. In response, Israel has launched a military campaign that has devastated large parts of the enclave. Iran fired a volley of missiles and drones into Israel last weekend in retaliation for a suspected Israeli attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria. "It would be a mistake to think that this [conflict] will not have an impact on Black voters, who connect with this history in a way that other Americans perhaps cannot," said the Rev. Mark Tyler, the senior pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadephia.